President Obama is making a brief stop in Copenhagen today in order to lobby for the 2016 Olympics. Critics have expressed concern that this is not the best use of his time. There are so many more important issues on his “plate,” goes the thinking, that it’s just not wise for him to jet off to Copenhagen to make his case for Chicago.
Welcome to the world of the 21st century leader.
We multi-task.
Did old world leaders, as in leaders 20 to 50 years ago, multi-task? Of course. But, there is a perception today that multi-tasking is the only way to get anything, one thing, all things, done. Because everything is interrelated, multi-tasking leaders can affect the whole at a much faster pace and more essential space. Or, so goes the thought.
Is it true?
Do multi-tasking mindsets help leaders or dilute their effectiveness. I don’t have time to answer that question because I’ve got a few more things to work on. But something tells me there’s wisdom on both sides of this idea.